Stalk-cutter



Nb Model.)

H L. M. REED. SJTALK CUTTER.

ru I a I gmve'wtoz. I 2 QM 35%] w aflozmm m a UNITED STATES PATENT LEWVIS M. REED, OF BURRTON, KANSAS.

-STALK-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,392, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed February 29. 1888. Serial No. 265,057. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS M-'I{JEED, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Burrton, in the county of Harvey and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters; and Ido declare the following to be afull,clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in stalk-cutters of that kind specially shown and described in Letters Patent No. 371,627, dated October 18, A. D. 1887, issued to me; and

1 the objects are, first, to provide improved means for transporting the machine when not in use as a roller or stalk-cutter, and, second, to provide improved means for taking and holding the central journals of the rollers or knife-frame. v

With these objects in view my invention consists, first, in a bracket fixed to the side pieces of the frame of the machine and formed to take an adjustable sliding standard having an axle or spindle projected therefrom to receive the carrying-wheels, and means for lifting the wheels free from the ground during 7 the progress of the machine in the field; sec

0nd, in an improved cross-bar having a bracket or plateto carry thejournal-boxes of the rollers or knife-frames at the middle of the machine. I have fully illustrated my improvements in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a perspective of the machine,

frame, and knife-frames, and my improvedsliding axle-brackets. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the aXlebracket. Fig. 3is a perspective of the axle and sliding standard. Fig. 4. is a view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3 combined with the wheel on the axle, and Fig. 5 is a view of my improved cross-bar.

Reference being had to the drawings, A designates the frame of the machine, which consists of substantial side pieces, 1, provided with bearings for the outer ends of the shafts of the knife and roller frames. The side pieces are connected at the front and rear by crosspieces3 4 and an intermediate cross-piece, 5,

and may be strengthened by braces 6 at the corners, the construction and arrangement of the frame and the parts associated therewith, except as hereinafter specified, being identical with that shown and described-in my said Letters Patent heretofore cited.

I have found that by having ashaft extended entirely across the machine, and having both cutter or knife frames mounted thereon, the strain is too great, and that the k nife-frames with or without the segmental roller-pieces rotate with greater freedom and do better work by having each mounted on an independent shaft; and I therefore, instead of the detachable picce or bar between the roller or knife frames, have devised the cross-bar shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings and journal the inner ends of the shafts or axles of the rollers in boxes secured to this piece.

More particularly describing my improved cross-bar, B designates the bar, consisting ofa substantial piece of material made wider in vertical direction than transversely and widened at each end, as at 7,with the ends of these parts projecting beyond the ends of the main bar, as shown, with the upper edge faces laid about ina line with the bottom edge of the main bar; and on each of these projecting end pieces is secured or formed a plate, 8, having boltholes 9, through which and the frame pieces bolts 10 are projected, and the cross-bar thus held permanently to the machineframe, substantially as shown in the drawings. On the middle of this cross bar, on the side faces, are formed two triangular brace brackets, 11, which support a bearing-plate, 12, fitted in a mortise, 13, in the lower edge of the cross-bar, to which plate are secured the bearing-boxes 14, in which the ends of the axles of the knifeframes are mounted.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings are shown my improved bracket and sliding axle, by which the machine may be lifted and the rollers or knives carried free from the ground. Reference being had to these illustrations, 0 designates a bracket, consisting of a plate, 15, adapted to be secured to the side pieces of the frame of the machine by bolts, as shown, and having a lateral flange, 16, projecting over and secured to the top face of the side piece. On the face of this plate 15 are formed flanges 17 and .18, vertically arranged and having a channel between them, the inner edges of the flanges projecting inward to serve as keepers for the sliding standard of the wheel-axle. At the lower end the channel is closed and at the npperislcft opcn,as seen in the drawings. Projecting from the upper end ol'the plate 15 isa standard, 19, to the upper end of which is pivotally secured an eccentric, 20, having a leverhandle, 21'. The lower part of the eccentric is pivotally connected to a connecting 0r lifting bar, 22, having the lower end pivoted to the standard of the wheel-axle. D designates the wheel-axle, consisting of a standard, 23, fitted to the channel in the plate of the side piece of the frame, and the axle or spindle 21 projected from the power end of the standard 23 and formed to take a wheel, 25, as shown. I %y rais ing the lever-handle the axle with the wheel is lifted, and by securing the lever in any way the parts are keptin such lifted position during the operation of the machine in the field, and when it is desired to carry the machine from the field or on the road to and from the field, or elsewhere, the lever is pressed down until the parts are in vertical arrangement, when the wheels carry the machine.

What I claim is- The combination,with the side pieces of the frame of a stalk-cutter, of a bracket formed with a side plate, 15, having vertically-arranged flanges 17 18, a supporting-flange, 16, to rest on the top face of the side piece and a standard, 19, a sliding standard, 23, arranged between the vertical flanges of the bracket and formed with an axle-spindle, 24, a lever, 21, pivotally mounted on the top of the standard of the bracket, and alink, 22, connected to the top of the sliding standard and having its other end eceentrically connected to the head of the lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signatnrein presence of two witnesses.

Lfl llViS M. REED.

'Witnesses:

(J. W. l\[(JNO\VN, (LW. l Lreln-lvunn. 

